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10 years of standing up: Nominees sought for the 2017 Stand Up Award

Image: Liz Dobrinska @ Innovative Images, LLC

10 years of standing up: Nominees sought for the 2017 Stand Up Award

November 16, 2016

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Rock Ethics Institute at Penn State announces a call for nominations for its 10th annual Stand Up Awards in recognition of undergraduate students at the University’s campuses who have demonstrated ethical leadership in taking a stand for a person, cause or belief. The goal of the award is to recognize courageous individuals and to inform the entire Penn State community about how often the extraordinary act is possible in ordinary circumstances.

For example, in spring of 2016 Alanna Kaiser, Nathan Larkin, and Jaden Rankin-Wahlers were honored respectively for their dedication to social justice on the ethics of climate change and fossil fuel divestment; environmental justice to address climate change and its impacts on vulnerable populations; and raising awareness and combating student poverty and homelessness. These student leaders faced difficult challenges, social pressures and conflicting claims concerning what to do. But, through their courage and determination to make the world a better place, they stood up for their beliefs. These individuals are part of a growing group of Penn State Stand Up Award recipients who meet the challenge, stand up and make a difference in the world.

Jaden Rankin-Whalers is a Penn State University Park Recipient of the 2016 Stand Up Award for her dedication to raising awareness of student poverty and her ethical leadership in combatting stigma associated with poverty and homelessness. For more of Jaden’s story, or to nominate a student for a 2017 Stand Up Award: www.StandUpPSU.com.

Alanna is a Penn State University Park Recipient of the 2016 Stand Up Award for her dedication to social justice and ethical leadership in promoting productive dialogue between students, faculty, and university administration on the ethics of climate change and fossil fuel divestment.

Nathan is a Penn State University Park Recipient of the 2016 Stand Up Award for his dedication to environmental justice and his ethical leadership in organizing efforts to address climate change and its disproportionate impacts on vulnerable populations. For more of Nathan’s story, or to nominate a student for a 2017 Stand Up Award: www.StandUpPSU.com.

IMAGE: Penn State

Any faculty, staff, student or community member worldwide may nominate a Penn State undergraduate student from any Commonwealth campus who has demonstrated ethical leadership for initiatives both large and small. Selected honorees will receive a monetary award of $1,000 each, be recognized at a spring 2017 ceremony and in a short video, and highlighted in traditional and digital publicity throughout the University.